N.C. Cooperative Extension  - Gaston County Center is proud to partner with First United Methodist Church in Stanley (aka Common Ground) to support their work in fighting hunger and food insecurity. The church provides a drive-thru food pantry where local area residents can come for non-perishable food items once every 30 days. This pantry program is funded by the church and run by volunteers - community support and volunteers makes a big difference!

Food Pantry Eat Smart Guide

To provide pantry participants with food preparation tips and recipes for using food items, Extension developed the Common Ground Food Pantry Eat Smart Guide. This is a digital publication that participants can access using a QR Code provided by Common Ground. Topics include:  recipes, money saving tips, healthy eating guidance, managing chronic conditions (such as diabetes), meal planning resources, and creating the perfect pantry.View the Common Ground Food Pantry Eat Smart Guide.

Nutrition Workshops for Pantry Participants

Our goal is to work with limited resource families and connect them with EFNEP, our Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. EFNEP helps participants learn skills and strategies to feed their family nutritious meals on a limited budget and improve their overall health. The skills learned also help families learn how to change behaviors that place them at risk for overweight and the diseases associated with being overweight like heart disease and diabetes.

Learn more about Gaston County's work in fighting hunter and food insecurity by contacting Linda J. Minges:  linda_minges@ncsu.edu or 704.922.2127.